Mistrial is declared in child custody-hit man case

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A judge has declared a mistrial because of a deadlocked jury in the case of a Connecticut woman accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband during a child custody case.

A judge declared the mistrial Friday in the case of former Bloomfield resident Tiffany Stevens, who remains free on $1 million bail. The case is expected to be retried before another jury.

Stevens pleaded not guilty to attempted murder on allegations she paid $5,000 to a maintenance man in Simsbury to kill Eric Stevens in 2012.

Prosecutors say Tiffany Stevens was secretly recorded on audio talking about the alleged plot, but her lawyer said the recording was inconclusive and accused Eric Stevens of making up the story.